2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Georgia

[Journalism](/majors/communication-journalism-media/journalism/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong journalism education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value journalism schools.
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2026 Best Value Journalism Schools in Georgia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the journalism degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Journalism Schools
For return on investment in journalism, no school beat University Of Georgia this year. Set in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $31,688. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $21,120. Early-career journalism graduates make about $41,352. Set against $21,120 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at Savannah State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Savannah, Savannah State University is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,750, with out-of-state students paying around $19,043. Students borrow a median of $33,000 to complete the journalism program here. Journalism graduates of Savannah State University earn a median of $24,310 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in journalism will find it at University Of West Georgia, which ranked #3. University Of West Georgia is a large public school located in the town of Carrollton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,088, with out-of-state students paying around $17,800. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $27,000. Journalism graduates of University Of West Georgia earn a median of $27,268 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Georgia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in journalism, landing the #4 spot this year. Georgia State University is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, with out-of-state students paying around $24,840. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Georgia State University generally make around $28,416. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 55%.
A rank of #5 makes Georgia Southern University one of the best values for journalism. Georgia Southern University is a very large public school located in the town of Statesboro. In-state tuition and fees average $6,022, while out-of-state students pay about $17,734. Journalism graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Journalism graduates of Georgia Southern University earn a median of $33,798 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Kennesaw State University landed the #6 spot for journalism value this year. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,808, compared with $17,736 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $24,700. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Kennesaw State University generally make around $30,792. Set against $24,700 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Georgia College And State University landed the #7 spot for journalism value this year. Set in the town of Milledgeville, Georgia College And State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,186, while out-of-state students pay about $29,512. Typical student debt for journalism graduates is $25,000. Soon after graduation, journalism degree recipients from Georgia College And State University generally make around $38,603. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia College And State University admits about 78% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.